WTF! Vinokourov Tests Positive!?

Vino is an ass. (AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski) This is totally unbelievable. What is it with these people that makes them continue to do this shit? I do not understand what the motivation is to still dope after all that has happened. From the Festina affair to Floyd Landis and Ivan Basso. These guys have thick [...]

Relentless Contador, Resurgent Vino

FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images The Pyrenees stages of the Tour have whittled down the list of contenders for the 2007 Tour de France to two names. Michael Rasmussen is still in Yellow but has a relentless Contador ready to pounce into the lead. After yesterday’s well played out win on Plateau de Beille, Contador and Discovery [...]

Moreau KO’d, Barloworld Bis

FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images Christophe Moraeu can be added to the list of contenders that are not in a place to contend. Team Astana struck like a cobra in the crosswinds of the transitional stage to help put Moreau out of contention in the Tour de France. Maybe Astana was exacting a bit of revenge or [...]

Vino’s Descent to Gap in 2003

In an earlier post I mentioned the swashbuckling attacks that Alexandre Vinokourov would launch in Tour’s past. Now that Vino is hurting and pretty much out of contention for the 2007 Tour lets look at one of Alexandre Vinokourov’s finer moments, his stage win at Gap in 2003. This is the Tour where everyone seemed [...]

Soler Solos While Vino Loses Ground

FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images Alexandre Vinokourov’s charge for the Mailliot Jaune could be a lost cause for 2007. Vino could not hold the pace of the top contenders and finds himself several minutes behind. Vino has been battling injuries and the pain showed today as he was riding with the group of second flight contenders and [...]

Rasmussen in Yellow and Dots, Bad Day for Aussies, Disco Decay

FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images Michael Rasmussen took the initiative in what is seen as an annual break to gain the Polka Dot climbers jersey. The difference this year is that he was also able to snatch the Yellow Jersey. The wiry Dane dominated an early breakaway with Michael Rogers. It looked like Rogers would take over [...]

Linus Gerdemann the New German Sensation

RICHARD MARTIN/AFP/Getty Images Just when German cycling looked to be cooked along comes a new sensation to light up the sport for the Bavarians. With Jorge Jascke hogging German TV, talking about how he made his small fortune by doping while lots of great actions goes by unnoticed. The German government wants to remove funding [...]

Boonen Wins, Wiggins Waits, Astana Survives

FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images The Tour de France is about battles large and small. The biggest battle is for the Yellow Jersey. Then there are stage wins, then battles for other jerseys. Each of these plays out in front of the TV everyday and provides for some drama in it s own way. Today Bradley Wiggins [...]

Astana Down

FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images The Astana team took a really big blow on Stage 5 to Autun. It is a day they will want to forget and quickly. Andreas Kloden the highest placed GC man looks to have broken his coccyx along with contusion to his hip and knee. In 2003 Kloden had a similar injury [...]

Pozzato Powers Through Peloton at 50mph

FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images Filippo Pozzato took a very fast sprint finish into Autun on Stage 5 of the Tour de France. The final slightly uphill finish was so fast that speeds reached up to 50mph. That is some fast turning of the pedals. The stage was being billed as a hilly challenge that would disrupt [...]